I was averaging 35 on AAMC practice tests. My Bio was organic chem heavy and I ended up getting a 10 on that section:-/ It also didn't help that my test was notorious for having a question on it without the correct answer available to choose (it was an easy question, but the answer just wasn't there. Other people who took it that day also saw this error).

What is funny is that I had a passage on my Bio section from a paper I already read. A friend of mine did a seminar on it just 2 months prior.

Are you applying this cycle? I'm applying AMCAS and AACOMAS as I type. I'm submitting tomorrow :-P

To say this is the toughest entry exam is an understatement.

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Yeah I'm in the middle of applying, just gotta write my personal statement and get my letters of rec out then I'll be golden. Just got my scores back and very happy with them. I out performed my goal, which was 30, so a little celebrating is probably in order.

Mostly, just a different accrediting institution (AOA vs LCME). DOs are more likely to use their hands in diagnosis and treatment, because they are trained in OMM.

I am not trying to be a jerk here, but this is mostly false. Yes DO's learn OMM but a vast majority do not use it past their board exams. DO's can do an MD residency and often do, where they cannot even legally use their OMM skills. The true difference is that DO schools are easier to get into and is not a universally accepted physician license, i.e. a DO cannot get licensed in other nations like an MD can. Past that they learn the same things (other then DO's also doing OMM).

The real life fundamental difference is that DO's have a harder time getting into more competitive residencies (Derm, Surgery specialties, ect.) as they can be looked down upon; whether or not that is right is up for debate. I don't mean disrespect to DO's they make great physicians, but in reality they are less competitive schools to get into and that puts them at a disadvantage.

Sorry for the long winded response and either way a 34-35 is a solid MCAT score, I got into an MD school with less. And get used to ****ty exams the board exams are freaking brutal, but I felt as if they are more fair. Good luck in applying that is an awful awful year, so glad I never have to do that again.

Any updates? I haven't had an interview invite in weeks. No rejections (at least no silent rejections) yet.

An interview invite to Colorado, which I'm excited about. This has become my top choice. Still waiting to hear back from 9 schools, and I still have a few secondaries to turn in - which I don't think I'm going to do for money issues.

I am not trying to be a jerk here, but this is mostly false. Yes DO's learn OMM but a vast majority do not use it past their board exams. DO's can do an MD residency and often do, where they cannot even legally use their OMM skills. The true difference is that DO schools are easier to get into and is not a universally accepted physician license, i.e. a DO cannot get licensed in other nations like an MD can. Past that they learn the same things (other then DO's also doing OMM).

The real life fundamental difference is that DO's have a harder time getting into more competitive residencies (Derm, Surgery specialties, ect.) as they can be looked down upon; whether or not that is right is up for debate. I don't mean disrespect to DO's they make great physicians, but in reality they are less competitive schools to get into and that puts them at a disadvantage.

Sorry for the long winded response and either way a 34-35 is a solid MCAT score, I got into an MD school with less. And get used to <del>****</del>ty exams the board exams are freaking brutal, but I felt as if they are more fair. Good luck in applying that is an awful awful year, so glad I never have to do that again.

Trust me, DO is not my first option. DOs do have a tougher time in the more competitive residencies, but it can be done if they have good USMLE scores. Typically, DOs don't do as well on the MCAT. I think in the next 10 years you're going to see that change, just because the application process is so competitive.

DO is my backup plan, because ultimately, I'll be a physician. They have 300-500 hours of OMM, which means they have 300-500 hours fewer of something else. I'm not too fond of that.

I haven't been invited to an interview in nearly a month. No rejections yet. I'll be notified Oct 19 and October 24 if I'm accepted to the schools I interviewed at. I completely bombed a DO interview because the doctor was big on OMM, and discovered I didn't care much about it.

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I looked at my post and it seems kinda cocky. Believe me I don't by any means to rip on DO's. I was very lucky to get an MD acceptance with my grades and MCAT. Many of my attendings (I'm in my 3rd year) have been DO's and you don't know the difference, just trying to point out what I have learned. What kind of specialty do you guys ultimately see yourself doing? Try not to stress out too bad over applications. I did everything wrong 28 MCAT applied super late and still got in (thank god). Was a stressful part of my life though for sure.

I was actually feeling kind of down today, since I haven't had any interview invites for several weeks. Well, Drexel put me on a pre-interview hold today, which wasn't a first choice. Kicking me when I'm down.

I'm open to specialties, but I really liked the ID doctor I shadowed. How about you? Do you mind if I ask where you attend?

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